Crane hoist attachment for the bed of a truck

ABSTRACT

A flat compact supporting base for a building material handling crane attaches to the bed of a pick-up truck or the like with only four bolts and is readily removable from the truck. A crane boom in plural sections is connected to the bed centrally and is held in a use position by a pair of guy cables and an opposing chain with tightening means. A power hoist is mountable on the base and has a hoisting cable which is reeved over a sheave on the outermost boom section. In a modified form of the invention, the boom is shiftable on the base to a lowered non-use position for traveling.

United States Patent 1191 Paul Nov. 11, 1975 [541 CRANE HOIST ATTACHMENT FOR THE 3.794.192 2/1974 Monson 214/75 H BED OF A TRUCK Jim N. Paul, 324 E. Locust St., Tyler, Tex. 75701 Filed: Nov. 11, 1974 Appl. No.: 522,430

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1939 Barnard 212/10 10/1971 Kruschke 212/8 R 2/1972 Blakeway et al 212/8 R Primary E.\'an1inerR0bert .l. Spar Assistant E.\'anzinerR. B. Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A flat compact supporting base for a building material handling crane attaches to the bed of a pick-up truck or the like with only four bolts and is readily removable from the truck. A crane boom in plural sections is connected to the bed centrally and is held in a use position by a pair of guy cables and an opposing chain with tightening means. A power hoist is mountable on the base and has a hoisting cable which is reeved over a sheave on the outermost boom section. ln a modified form of the invention, the boom is shiftable on the base to a lowered non-use position for traveling.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,918,592

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet20f3 3,918 592 US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet30f3 3,918,592

CRANE HOIST ATTACHMENT FOR THE BED OF A TRUCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Demountable crane attachments for pick-up trucks are known in the prior art and US. Pat. No. 3,797,672 to Vermette is an example of the patented prior art. Crane attachments of this character have not been widely adopted and used because of excessive cost usually involved for a relatively complicated structure, therefore making the device somewhat impractical. Nevertheless, a definite need exists for a simplified, low-cost crane attachment for pick-up trucks to allow the hoisting of construction materials efficiently at building sites where the use of heavy duty construction cranes cannot be justified economically. It is therefore the objective of the invention to satisfy the abovestated need for a simplified crane attachment for pickup trucks and the like which is economical to construct and install, sturdy enough to handle a wide variety of building materials, easy to operate, and which requires virtually no maintenance. In short, it is the objective of the invention to provide a demountable crane attachment for trucks which is entirely practical both in terms of cost to construct and operate.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up truck crane attachment shown ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of a crane base.

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of a multi-part crane boom.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the crane attachment.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the modified structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, an essentially flat horizontal adjustable crane mounting base 10 is provided, and this base is adapted to be removably mounted upon the floor 11 of the cargo box of an ordinary pick-up truck 12, or similar vehicle.

The base 10, preferably constructed of box tubing,

has fore and aft longitudinally adjustable frame sections 13 and 14. The frame sections 13 and 14 include pairs of spaced parallel longitudinal bars 15 and 16 which interfit telescopically and adjustably as best shown in FIG. 4 so that the base may accomodate itself to various sizes of truck beds.

The base sections 13 and 14 each have end transverse bars 17 which receive telescopically and adjustably pairs of transverse outrigger bars 18. The adjustable bars 18 have vertical through openings 19 exteriorly of the bars 17, receiving sturdy mounting bolts 20 which engage through openings of the truck bed or floor 11. The telescoping bars 18 thus render the base 10 laterally adjustable. Because of the four mounting bolts 20 which are the sole means of attaching the base to the truck bed, it is unnecessary to pin or bolt the telescoping members of the horizontal base 10 in assembled relationship. Once the bolts 20 are in place, the members 15, l6, l7 and 18 are all locked and cannot move or separate. This is one of the important features of the invention in terms of simplicity. The entire base 10 is flat and rises only a few inches above the floor 11.

The forward section 13 of the base has a rigid immovable transverse bar 21 near its rear end carrying a pair of upturned spaced apertured lugs 22 between which the base section 23 of a plural section crane boom is pivotally mounted on a supporting pivot pin 24 or bolt. The crane boom preferably comprises a mid-section 25 and an outer or fly section 26. The boom sections interfit telescopically as shown and may be bolted as at 27. They are readily separable. The fly section 26 is equipped with a sheave 28 for engagement with a hoisting cable 29, wound on the winch drum 30 or spool of a hoist having a drive motor 31. The hoist mechanism per se is conventional and need not be described in further detail.

A pair of upstanding L-brackets 32 are rigidly secured to the bars 15 rearwardly of boom mounting bar 21, and the electric hoist is secured directly to the brackets 32 and supported thereon as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by bolt means 33.

The erected crane boom is stabilized in its use position by a pair of guy cables 34, whose lower ends are secured to shackles 35 and anchoring bolts 36, in turn secured to the outer ends of forward base section outrigger arms 18. The upper ends of guy cables 34 are secured to ears or brackets 37 on the boom mid-section 25, about two-thirds of the way up the plural section boom. The brackets 37 are attached to opposite sides of the boom mid-section 25 as best shown in FIG. 3.

A similar attachment bracket 38 is secured to the lower side of the boom base section 23 somewhat below its upper end, and to this bracket is secured a chain 39 or similar flexible element of high strength. This chain is equipped with a conventional tightening unit 40 or boomer. The lower end of the chain is secured to an eye 41 on the top of bar 17 of rear base section 14, at the center of the same. By utilizing the tightening mechanism 40, the chain 39 is rendered taut tending to pull the boom downwardly and rearwardly against the resistance of the two guy cables 34. The reaction of the guy cables in tension tends to hold the boom erect and laterally stabilized during use.

During the use of the crane attachment for hoisting beams or other heavy construction materials, the truck 12 is maneuvered to an advantageous position of use and the crane attachment is erected and operated in a manner which requires no further explanation. When the operation is complete, the entire attachment can be quickly and easily dismounted from the truck and separated into components for ease of transportation and- /0r storage.

In accordance with a modification of the invention, FIGS. 6 and 7, means are provided to facilitate shifting the crane boom on the base between a near level traveling position or non-use position and an erected position.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 42 is essentially identical to the base 10 in that it embodies forward and rear longitudinally adjustable sections 43 and 44, each having transversely adjustable outrigger bars 45 adapted to be bolted down to the bed of the truck in the manner previously described. On the forward base section 43, upstanding bars 46 corresponding to the bars 32 are provided for the direct mounting of the previously described power hoist indicated at 47 in FIG. 7.

In lieu of the fixed bar 21 and elements 22 in the prior form of the invention, a central longitudinal bar 48 on forward base section 43 extends between and has its opposite ends rigid with transverse bars 49 and 50 of base section 43. A sleeve 51 is slidably mounted on the bar 48 for longitudinal movement fore and aft, and the forward end of this sleeve carries upstanding apertured lugs 52 for the pivotal mounting of the base section 53 of the crane boom by suitable bolt means 54. The limits of travel of the sleeve 51 are clearly shown in FIG. 7 to delineate the nearly upright and nearly level use and non-use positions of the crane boom. The sliding sleeve 51 is adapted to be crosspinned at 55 to the central bar 48 in either of its two adjusted positions so that the boom 53 will be locked on the base in either the up or down adjusted position.

Additionally, in FIGS. 6 and 7, a generally upright and somewhat inclined fixed guide and safety yoke 56 is mounted on the crossbar 49 and receives the boom 53 movably between its two sides as shown. This is primarily a safety feature which would arrest any extreme swaying of the boom and provide guidance during the movement of the boom between its use and travel positions. If desired, the previously-described telescoped boom sections may be unpinned and collapsed inwardly inside of the base section 53 during transportation with the sleeve 51 pinned in its forward position near the bar 50. In all other respects, the construction and operation of the invention is identical to the preceding embodiment.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: 7

1. A crane attachment for pick-up trucks and the like comprising a horizontal mounting base attachable directly to a truck bed, said base comprising fore and aft telescoping longitudinally adjustable base sections and fore and aft laterally adjustable telescoping outrigger bars on said base sections, said outrigger bars adapted for direct bolting to a truck bed, power hoist mounting bracket means on the forward base section, a crane boom, means to secure the base of the crane boom to said mounting base, guy cable means interconnecting said boom with the forward end portion of the mounting base, and opposing adjustable tension means interconnecting said boom with the forward end portion of the mounting base, whereby said boom is stabilized in an erected position of use, said boom having a sheave for a hoisting cable.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said boom having plural telescoping sections, and means for pinning said boom sections in extended positions of use.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said guy cable means comprising a pair of downwardly diverging guy cables 4 having upper ends secured to the boom mid-section and having lower ends secured to the outrigger bars of the forward base section, the opposing adjustable tension means consisting of a boomer chain and means to secure it to the craneboom and to the rearward base section.

4. The structure of claim 1, and the fore and aft base sections each having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal bars and the bars of one base section adapted to telescope longitudinally with those of the other base section, an end transverse bar on each base section joining said longitudinal bars and adapted to telescope with said outrigger bars.

5. The structure of claim 4, and said outrigger bars each having a vertically extending anchor bolt receiving opening outside of said transverse bars of the base sections.

6. The structure of claim 5, and shackle means near the outer ends of the outrigger bars for connection with the lower ends of the guy cable means.

7. The structure of claim 4, and said means to secure the crane. boom base to the mounting base comprising a transverse bar interconnecting the longitudinal bars of one base section and disposed near the longitudinal center of the assembled base, and apertured lug means on the last-named transverse bar adapted for pivotal attachment to the crane boom base section and disposed at the transverse center of the mounting base;

8. The structure of claim 2, and said boom being a three section boom, bracket means on opposite sides of the mid-section of said boom and adapted for attachment with said guy cable means, and additional bracket means on the lower side of the base section of said boom adapted for attachment with the adjustable tension means.

9. The structure of claim 1, and said power hoist mounting bracket means comprising a pair of upstanding bars secured to opposite sides of the forward base section forwardly of said means to secure said base of the crane boom to said mounting base.

10. The structure of claim 1, and said means to secure the base of the crane boom to said mounting base comprising a longitudinally slidable support for the base of the crane boom on said mounting base allowing the crane boom to be raised and lowered.

11. The structure of claim 10, and said mounting base including a central longitudinal bar on the forward section of the mounting base, a sleeve slidable on said bar for fore and aft movement thereon and adapted to be pinned in fore and aft positions on said bar, and means to attach the base of the crane boom to said sleeve.

12. The structure of claim 11, and said last-named means comprising a pair of spaced apertured lugs on the top of said sleeve adapted for pivotal attachment to the base of the crane boom.

13. The structure of claim 12, and a guide yoke for said boom secured rigidly to said mounting base and extending thereabove and having a guidance and stabilizing passage for the boomduring movement of the boom with said sleeve between an upright position of use and a lowered position for travel. 

1. A crane attachment for pick-up trucks and the like comprising a horizontal mounting base attachable directly to a truck bed, said base comprising fore and aft telescoping longitudinally adjustable base sections and fore and aft laterally adjustable telescoping outrigger bars on said base sections, said outrigger bars adapted for direct bolting to a truck bed, power hoist mounting bracket means on the forward base section, a crane boom, means to secure the base of the crane boom to said mounting base, guy cable means interconnecting said boom with the forward end portion of the mounting base, and opposing adjustable tension means interconnecting said boom with the forward end portion of the mounting base, whereby said boom is stabilized in an erected position of use, said boom having a sheave for a hoisting cable.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said boom having plural telescoping sections, and means for pinning said boom sections in extended positions of use.
 3. The structure of claim 1, and said guy cable means comprising a pair of downwardly diverging guy cables having upper ends secured to the boom mid-section and having lower ends secured to the outrigger bars of the forward base section, the opposing adjustable tension means consisting of a boomer chain and means to secure it to the crane boom and to the rearward base section.
 4. The structure of claim 1, and the fore and aft base sections each having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal bars and the bars of one base section adapted to telescope longitudinally with those of the other base section, an end transverse bar on each base section joining said longitudinal bars and adapted to telescope with said outrigger bars.
 5. The structure of claim 4, and said outrigger bars each having a vertically extending anchor bolt receiving opening outside of said transverse bars of the base sections.
 6. The structure of claim 5, and shackle means near the outer ends of the outrigger bars for connection with the lower ends of the guy cable means.
 7. The structure of claim 4, and said means to secure the crane boom base to the mounting base comprising a transverse bar interconnecting the longitudinal bars of one base section and disposed near the longitudinal center of the assembled base, and apertured lug means on the last-named transverse bar adapted for pivotal attachment to the crane boom base section and disposed at the transverse center of the mounting base.
 8. The structure of claim 2, and said boom being a three section boom, bracket means on opposite sides of the mid-section of said boom and adapted for attachment with said guy cable means, and additional bracket means on the lower side of the base section of said boom adapted for attachment with the adjustable tension means.
 9. The structure of claim 1, and said power hoist mounting bracket means comprising a pair of upstanding bars secured to opposite sides of the forward base section forwardly of said means to secure said base of the crane boom to said mounting base.
 10. The structure of claim 1, and said means to secure the base of the crane boom to said mounting base comprising a longitudinally slidable support for the base of the crane boom on said mounting base allowing the crane boom to be raised and lowered.
 11. The structure of claim 10, and said mounting base including a central longitudinal bar on the forward section of the mounting base, a sleeve slidable on said bar for fore and aft movement thereon and adapted to be pinned in fore and aft positions on said bar, and means to attach the base of the crane boom to said sleeve.
 12. The structure of claim 11, and said last-named means comprising a pair of spaced apertured lugs on the top of said sleeve adapted for pivotal attachment to the base of the crane boom.
 13. The structure of claim 12, and a guide yoke for said boom secured rigidly to said mounting base and extending thereabove and having a guidance and stabilizing passage for the boom during movement of the boom with said sleeve between an upright position of use and a lowered position for travel. 